China’s first aircraft carrier named Admiral Kuznetsov began its first sea trial expedition on Wednesday, August 10, 2011, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Previous reports said that the first aircraft carrier also known as Varyag was created in Soviet Union and obtained by China last 1998 from Ukraine for $20 million, however, its weapons and engines were removed before being sold to China.

Admiral Kuznetsov’s renovation reportedly made China to fulfill their long-term goal to create a carrier force that can develop power into the Asian region.

Apparently, it was intended to bear 26 planes and 24 helicopters and be endowed with the Soviet– designed and Kashtan close-in weapon systems such as AK-630 and CADS-N-1 respectively.